In case anyone was wondering where Suzaku was....

Chapter 2: Aftershocks

Suzaku sat up to the sound of a cheering crowd. What? What had happened? He was lying on the ground alone near the Gawain. He'd been…and then…

"Zero! Zero! Zero!" they were chanting, and his dread increased. What had happened? Where was that girl from Narita? But more importantly, where was Princess Euphemia?

He scrambled onto his feet and ran out towards the stage, only to be stopped short by a couple of guards. "Not now. The princess is in the midst of her announcement."

How long had he been out of it? And what had Zero done?!

But Suzaku had little choice but to stand in the wings and wait. He couldn't burst out onto the stage late, embarrassing himself and interrupting the ceremony.

He could only listen as his dream for the Special Zone went horribly wrong, but even so, he was more concerned with figuring out who that girl was and why she was with Zero.

Suzaku stood beside his princess, bristling with frustration. He glowered across the room at Zero. "How can you say that?"

"The people will need protection, because even in the Special Zone, we are likely to have problems with refrain dealing and…" Princess Euphemia explained patiently.

"That's what you have the Britannian forces for!"

"I know, but do you really think the Japanese people will trust the Britannian military to protect them?" She sounded entirely too reasonable and pleasant, but what she was saying was anything but.

"Then we'll start a Japanese police force. There are solutions that don't involve hiring faceless terrorists to keep the peace!" Suzaku pounded the table with one fist, but bent his head in despair.

It was a done deal. Princess Euphemia had made up her mind, and she seemed immune to the suggestions of her staff. Even Dalton, whose views she genuinely respected, was making no headway against the princess' decision to support Zero.

"I think you'll find the Black Knights to be a good bit more effective at keeping the peace than your Britannian police forces, Major Kururugi," Zero interjected in that smooth, smug voice. He knew he had won this round, and he was basking in his victory.

Suzaku could just glare, letting the other man know that he wasn't trusted.

Dalton, on the other hand, interjected with the most significant concession the Britannians were looking for…at the moment, anyway. "The Black Knights will of course be registering as citizens of the Specially Administrated Zone of Japan."

"Of course," Zero agreed, "though administration of the Knights shall remain an internal affair."

"For now," Dalton agreed with a tight-lipped smile. They could only remain anonymous for so long, though, and it would be much easier to track them down on this shortened list.

"Thank you so much for agreeing to join us, Zero. It means a great deal to the people of Japan to have your support."

And as long as Princess Euphemia kept talking like that, there was no way they could demand that Zero take his mask off.

Though Suzaku was tempted to just run him through with a sword; his costume wouldn't protect him from that, and whoever was under the mask would be just as dead.

Unfortunately, the irony of using underhanded methods to assassinate a terrorist for his crimes was not lost on him.

Zero climbed into the cockpit of the Gawain, ignoring C.C.'s questioning look. "We're going," he said tersely, removing his helmet as they took off.

"Oh," she said upon seeing his face. "That's what that was."

"I'm…I'm losing control," he said, his surprise almost comical. "Events are spiraling away from my plans and …" He looked so vulnerable, but she was having difficulty hiding her glee. After all, she'd been waiting for this for awhile….

"I kept waiting for something surprising to happen, but the ceremony was rather dull." She gauged his reaction.

"I don't want to discuss it," he said as they gained altitude. "I'm going to have to deal with the Black Knights now. Euphy screwed everything up." He scowled.

C.C. laughed quietly. "She outsmarted you?"

"No! Outmaneuvered, maybe," he conceded, "but she's guileless. Still…I don't like this. I'm involved in her scheme now. I've practically invited her to betray me."

"We can only be betrayed by people we trust," C.C. said, looking back and up at him.

"I know that. But I do trust her. The problem is…she doesn't control Britannia, and I certainly don't trust them. Using her to betray me against her will or even knowledge is a move I'd expect of Schneizel and his pawns once they get involved. I just have to stay a few steps ahead of them – Cornelia won't do anything to risk her dear little sister."

"So you intend to betray her, then?"

"Not if I don't have to," Lelouch dismissed the question as they touched down.

"Did you use your geass on her?"

"No, there was no need, but I did tell her about it. She seemed quite impressed, until it misfired like that. But we'll talk about geass later. For now, I have to bring the Black Knights on board…." He slid the mask back on, but even so, it was clear he was thinking about the coming debates.

C.C. tried to hide her surprise. It seemed Lelouch really did intend to collaborate with his sister, despite his doubts. She had to admit he was an interesting accomplice to work with. Even now, he could still surprise her.

Suzaku kept looking anywhere but at Euphemia. He was angry with her, but it was hard to say why. Up until Zero's arrival, their work for the Special Zone had all been done together. It was her idea, and he supported her fully.

But now…she'd gone and brought Zero on board, without even attempting to get him to disarm. It was the most incredibly reckless thing he'd ever witnessed her to do. Euphy was nothing if not impulsive, and even a bit headstrong, but she'd never seemed immune to good advice.

Making terrorists disarm before entering their zone of peace was an essential step in this plan. Princess Euphemia had publicly requested Zero's involvement, but for her to accept his aid on such terms was expressly counter to everything they were trying to do.

"Why…why do you trust him?" he asked quietly, trying to understand, trying to not be upset with himself for allowing the private meeting.

She smiled her secret smile and just said, "He's a good person."

Suzaku supported her; he always would. But when she supported Zero, he was a little lost. He opposed that man on principle and had been happy to fight him, to save the lives of the innocent.

How could he support Euphy and Zero? How could the princess be on the side of the terrorist? That's why he couldn't look at her. That's why he couldn't accept these current conditions.

And he hated that.

Zero's meeting with the leadership of the Black Knights went about as well as expected.

Meaning they didn't lynch him, at least.

There were a lot of questions and recriminations, but Zero merely continued to inform them that they would be joining the Special Zone but not disarming. And he kept hinting that this was a first step towards bigger and better things to come, as if he'd planned it all along.

That placated some of them. He could tell Diethard was intrigued, and Tohdoh seemed pleased with the balance he'd struck, though he was obviously under no illusion that the fight was over. His most adamant support came from Ohgi, which surprised him, but Kallen would take some time to get used to the idea, he could tell. He couldn't really blame the Black Knights for not trusting Euphemia or the Britannians, after all. And it didn't help that they were confused and disgruntled to have been put on standby like that for the opening ceremony. He called it a 'necessary precaution' and refused to say what he thought he might have needed an army of KMF's for.

He instructed them to recruit as heavily as possible for the SAZ, so their membership would be hidden among not just thousands but nearly a million innocent Japanese. He knew that hiding the identities of the Black Knights would be difficult, but their secrets wouldn't have to hold out for long.

Unless Euphemia and Suzaku were a lot better than he thought.

"C.C., I can't be seen any more. I can't go back to Ashford." Lelouch seemed resigned more than panicked; good, he was dealing with this change then.

"Why not?" she asked innocently.

He gestured at his left eye angrily. "That's why. I can't be seen with this. Nunnally would be safe, but anyone else could fall victim to an accidental command…."

"I'm safe," she reminded him. Well, perhaps he wasn't dealing that well. "And so are all those people you've already used your geass on. Isn't that about half of the Ashford student population by now?"

"Very funny. What am I supposed to do? Just…vanish? Remain Zero always?"

"Would that be so bad?" she asked.

"Nunnally. I can't abandon Nunnally. Not yet…."

Ah. That. "Then get an eye patch," she informed him, getting bored with their conversation. "Tell everyone it's doctor's orders, and act embarrassed. You never intended to stay in school forever." She leaned back indolently, as if she were ignoring him.

He glared at her, but accepted that as the easiest solution. He really shouldn't be making such a big deal of this; he knew this might happen eventually. His double life was not a permanent solution, and as Zero became more successful, Lelouch Lamperouge would have to be sacrificed. He hadn't planned for it to happen quite this way, but he had planned an exit strategy, and he could still use it. C.C. was right about involving a doctor – he could simply use geass to make the man give whatever prescriptions or orders he needed.

It's just…he hated losing control. It…irked him. And, if he were honest, it hurt to see that look of horror on Euphy's face when the guards had killed themselves. If even she thought of him as a monster…. It had been one thing the first time he'd done that. With no witnesses, he'd had a sense of satisfaction for taking his own fate into his hands and unleashing death on those who threatened him, the same men who had dared to kill Suzaku before his very eyes. He'd reveled in what geass could do. Now…he felt uneasy, as this less-welcome companion did not mold itself so easily to his will. His geass seemed to have a will of its own, and that bothered him. Would he go insane, as Mao had, a slave to geass? He clenched a fist. Never!

C.C. saw his determination and smiled. He would fulfill their contract. She was certain of it. She'd talk to him about that boy Suzaku some other time.

"Why the sudden change of heart, Lelouch?" Suzaku asked, his voice hard. "Is it still going to be a 'disaster,' like everything I do?" he asked bitterly. "Or do you only support ideas from your precious Zero?"

Because after Zero's announcement at the opening ceremony, suddenly joining the Special Zone was a lot more popular. Suzaku understood why the people of Japan would be encouraged by his participation, but he didn't have to like it.

"Nunnally wants to join the SAZ," Lelouch said quietly, head bowed and turned away. Suzaku recognized the stance as Lelouch at his lowest. When they were kids, he would tell Suzaku to shut up and go away when he was like this, and then call him names when he didn't go. But now…he just sat there miserably.

Suzaku stilled. Of course. This wasn't about Zero or him or politics at all. This was about Nunnally. How could he have been so stupid? "Oh," he said, suddenly contrite. Lelouch was humbling himself, completely going against everything he thought best, and all he'd managed to do was doubt and taunt him. How could he be so stupid? Wait a minute. There was a very good reason this hadn't come up before. "But I thought…. She can't do that! She'll be…"

"I know," he said, sounding miserable. "But she misses Euphy."

"Then I'll bring Euphy over to visit," Suzaku said immediately. "For crying out loud, she has to see that this isn't worth blowing your cover for. If news got out…"

"I know what would happen," Lelouch said tersely. "But she wants to join the Special Zone." He had never been able to say no to Nunnally. Never.

"I'll talk to her, Lelouch. Maybe…maybe I can explain to her why it wouldn't be…."

Lelouch laughed suddenly, cutting him off. "What, you're against it now? I thought you loved the Special Zone, Suzaku," he said mockingly.

"I'm Japanese, Lelouch. Of course I love the idea. But that doesn't mean I'm naïve." He ignored Lelouch when he laughed again. "I know there is a huge power struggle going on right now, and I doubt Britannia is going to lose it. But this isn't about that; this is about your sister and her safety. It was one thing when the Special Zone was just Princess Euphemia's idea, but now that Zero is involved…it's too risky. If she goes public now, someone will notice and then…"

"And then it's all over." Lelouch curled inwards a bit. "Then the royal family claims her and tears her away from me to be used as a pawn in their games, the manipulative bastards."

"I'll talk to her." He repeated his offer, hoping Lelouch wouldn't insist on being stupid about this. "There are other ways to get what she wants."

"It was Euphy's idea that she join," Lelouch said bitterly.

"Euphy? But why would she…? Doesn't she know?" He looked at Lelouch helplessly. Nothing was making sense tonight. It was as if everyone he knew had suddenly gone crazy.

"I can't win against Nunnally and Euphy, Suzaku. You win. I'll join your Special Zone. And if I join…I want it to work. It has to succeed. Do you understand now?"

"Yes," he said quietly. "For Nunnally's sake, it cannot fail."

"We will join as Lamperouge. Hopefully, no one will notice our names. Euphy will keep them a secret, of course, so there is a chance…."

He sounded so miserable, though. Suzaku had wanted Lelouch to join, had practically begged him after Euphy announced her plan, but…he hadn't thought it would be like this. He had hoped…. But since when had anything he'd hoped for ever worked out?

"Lelouch…I'm sorry. I will do everything I can to make the Special Zone succeed. I know it's asking a lot, but…will you trust me that much?"

"It seems I have no choice," Lelouch said grudgingly, but he did look…almost grateful…as he looked back at Suzaku. At least he wasn't hiding any more, though that ridiculous eye patch made his face look lopsided.

"Hey," Suzaku said, smiling tentatively. "If you and I both join together, we have to succeed, right?"

"That's right," Lelough agreed, a small smile wiping aside his permanent scowl, if just for a moment. "That's how it always was before."

"And, Lelouch…" He was going to regret saying this; he just knew it. "This…this is a way to take another step out of Britannia." Lelouch had been convinced that he'd never get Nunnally out of the country anonymously, even with false papers. A blind crippled girl was just too unique, too memorable, and he couldn't risk the wrong person asking questions. So leaving the empire he hated had never been a choice. Japan was his cage.

Lelouch's look sharpened, powered by his hatred, and the hint of a smile was gone. "I'm not running away, Suzaku."

"I know you're not. But I also know how much you can't stand --"

Lelouch stood abruptly and turned his back. "Goodnight, Suzaku."

Suzaku's shoulders fell. He knew it had been a stupid thing to say. "G'night, Lelouch," he mumbled. "I'll…I'll talk to Euphy. Make sure she understands your situation. I won't let her endanger you and Nunnally. And maybe…maybe Nunnally will understand."

He knew Lelouch wouldn't thank or forgive him, so he turned to leave.

Author's Note: Still setting the scene in the early stages here, though hopefully some things are starting to emerge. I promise that this entire fic won't just be people talking to each other - stuff will happen, eventually. The next update will likely take longer.